Dirt, Sex and Money...what else do viewers need?

I can’t express my sadness at the unofficial announcements and rumours that ABC’s Dirty Sexy Money has been cancelled. It’s such a shame as it was definitely one of the most engaging dramas of the recent years. It is currently in its second season and was being broadcast by E4. For those of you who don’t know, Dirty Sexy Money is an American television series which premiered on 26^th September 2007. The series revolves around lawyer and family man Nick George, When Nick’s father mysteriously dies in a plane crash; he agrees to take his position as the Darling family’s lawyer, while trying to discover who committed the murder. The Darlings, the richest family in New York, constantly rely on Nick to solve their problems. Nick struggles to balance his morals and family life while dealing with the demands of the Darlings.                                                                                                            It had a great cast as Peter Krause, William Baldwin, Blair Underwood and Lucy Lui starred. The show also stars Donald Sutherland as the Darling family patriarch and what a family it turns out to be. As one of the wealthiest families in New York, these folks allow their hedonistic tendencies to run rampant and then turn to Nick to bail them out or resolve their problems. This show has all of the ingredients to make viewers keep coming back for more. The pace is fast, and the money is flying. Dirty Sexy Money has a great cast, witty dialogue, an intriguing plot and also manages to add a touch of ironic humor.There are rumors are rife online that the show is in a state of hiatus and that due to production costs, actors salaries and low ratings the show has been halted but not officially cancelled. ABC network has not released an official announcement however recent interview with actor Blair Underwood suggest otherwise. And although the TV bosses haven’t officially stated the show will end, actor Underwood, who plays Simon Elder in the show, confesses the cast and crew have called it a day. He tells E! Online, “As far as I’m concerned, we’re not doing any more shows”

“ABC officially doesn’t want to use the C-word, cancelled, but we’re not onthe schedule. I would pretty much say we’re cancelled. It does seem the economic crisis is affecting Hollywood and the entertainment world has taken hit which is a shame because Dirty Sexy Money was an exceptional, illustrious but realistic drama. I found it hugely entertaining  and borderline addictive as viewers indulged in the Darling family dysfunctional lifestyles and secrets, it had potential to become ABC’s premiere and flagship show                                                                                                      

     If you are a fan of the show and desperately want another television network to pick it up, there is an online petition

Click here to save show: http://www.petitiononline.com/dsm123/petition.html

First runner up - Miss California

This week America watched as 12 women became one when they competed live on television for the ultimate prize – yes, I am talking about the Miss USA pageant of course!

Filled with the usual bikini-clad, ‘world peace wishing’ Barbie girls, this year also brought along with it, an extra element – controversy.

At the all-important questions round, contestant, Miss California was asked what she thought about gay marriage and her answer has caused outrage and evoked debate throughout America.

Carrie Prejean, lost out in the final to Miss North Carolina and many believe it was down to her politically incorrect views, but when asked if she would change her answer given the chance, she replied: “I have no regrets about answering honestly. He asked me for my opinion and I gave it to him. I have nothing against gay people, and I didn’t mean to offend anyone in my answer”.

Click here to watch the moment they have all been talking about.

I love Paul Newman. Not only was he the most gorgeous man to walk the earth, those blue eyes would charm the pants of any woman in the word, lesbians included. He was a humanitarian, entrepreneur, and a philanthropist, he made great films and was a doting father, grandfather and successfully married man of 50 years. 

His death of lung cancer last September was a great loss felt around the world and his memory lives on through his films, his family and most importantly his charitable work. He was 83 years and survived by his wife Joanne Woodward. Newman was also a co-founder of a food company from which Newman donated all post tax profits and royalties to charity. To date these donations have exceeded $250 million.

Newman Day

Now there is this little-known tradition on Newman Day, 24th April where 24 beers are drunk in 24 hours, the tradition was sparked by a campus speech made by Newman at Princeton    University “24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not.  The college drinking ritual is closely supervised by medical staff at colleges and this year extra care is being taken as it is the first Newman day since the late actors’ death.

The day also features charity work and community service projects.

Back in 2004, the veteran actor publicly condemned the drinking ritual and once directed his lawyer to write a letter of complaint to Princeton University, he said he was “disturbed” that his named was attached to such a thing. In the letter he stressed “he would like to put an end to the tradition.”

So it would be interesting to see if students across America will simply toast to Paul Newman who everyone knew loved a beer or two…or three or will there be reports of drunk and disorderly behavior across campuses.  

Part of the challenge sees students attempting to make it through their classes while drunk or consuming their hourly beer. However, Princeton’s dean of undergraduate students Kathleen Deignan said that the event was unofficial and did not have the backing of the University.

“We clarified that Newman’s Day is not sanctioned by the university and in fact we go the other way. We try to stop it.” Either way, I’ll be celebrating Paul Newman day by watching a marathon of his films and raising a glass in his honor.

memorial for those who died in Hillsborough disaster

In report released by the Home Office, requests from the home secretary have led to the official release of the Hillsborough disaster documents, 10 years ahead of schedule.

Jacqui Smith has met with South Yorkshire’s chief constable, Meredydd Hughes, to discuss waiving the 30-year rule on official documents.

The news emerged days after the 20th anniversary of the tragedy at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium on 15 April 1989, when 96 Liverpool supporters died at their team’s FA Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest.

The anniversary was marked with memorial services in all three cities on Wednesday, and saw renewed calls by victims’ families for a new inquiry into the deaths. They believe a major plan was never started by South Yorkshire police and fans in the Leppings Lane end were denied emergency medical attention.

The families also dispute the findings of the previous single inquest into the 96 deaths, which ruled that the victims were all dead, or brain dead, by 3.15pm with a recorded verdict of accidental death.

Trevor Hicks, of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said today: “We have heard that a request has been made and we are expecting confirmation this week.

“I am pleased ‑ it’s better late than never. This will enable us to see the full picture of events in a way that we have been denied for 20 years. It is vital that these files are released in full and not sanitised in any way.”

He said the families would like to view the documents before they are made public to ensure they do not learn the details of how their loved ones died through the media.

The documents could include police files and the records of other emergency services, government departments and local authorities.

The families say they are particularly keen to see the minutes of a meeting between then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and South Yorkshire police officers, which they say took place on the Sunday morning after the disaster.

“We believe that a decision was made at that meeting that the police would not be blamed for what happened,” said Hicks.

“We would like to see the minutes of the meeting, to know what the prime minister was told and what decisions were taken about the handling of any inquiries.”

economy no longer in free fall

According to reports, the economy is no longer in free fall and it is predicted there will be signs of recovery appearing as soon as next spring.

The think tank at The Ernest & Young Item Club have revealed stabilising markets and the easing of credit conditions may well mean that the worst of the recession is over.

It is forecast that the economy is to shrink by 3.5% this year and by 0.1% in 2010.

However, it also said that the backdrop to Wednesday’s Budget is “bleak” and warned that the chancellor has “limited options” in his spending plans.

In the Budget, Alistair Darling is thought to predict economic contraction of about 3% of GDP this year – up from his earlier forecast in November of between 0.75% to 1.25%.

The Item Club believes that the revival of the bond market in January has enabled the UK’s strongest companies to gain access to credit.

 This forecast was also encouraged by improved sentiment emerging in business surveys in the US, China and the UK.

 But according to Chief economic advisor to the Item Club, Peter Spencer, the worst Is not over yet:

 ”We face another 12 to 18 months of serious grief. Around 900,000 jobs will be lost this year and half a million next,” he said.

 He then went on to predict a bleak time for the housing and high street market over the next 12 months, and world trade is expected to decline by 9% in 2009.

 So assumingly a celebratory shopping spree is still a little out of the question.

does not regret golliwog comment

Thatcher has said she does not regret using the term ‘golliwog’ to describe a black tennis player, a move which led to her being sacked by the BBC.

Ms Thatcher made the remark on a recent appearance on the Andrew Marr Show, when asked about her reaction to the incident.

 Although she did regret the fact that the incident was leaked to the press, but not the use of the word, adding: “It was in a context which wasn’t really appreciated at the time.”  

She further went on to say: “The point I had [to make] was about today’s obsession with political correctness and I think that still remains a topic that has to be really addressed and some common sense injected into it.”

 However, during the show, former Labour leader Neil Kinnock challenged Ms Thatcher over the incident.

He said: “The one thing that really struck me when I heard the report that you’d used the word and stuck by the word was astonishment because I didn’t think that somebody like you Carol would consciously or unconsciously use such a word.

“Not because of this overworked term political correctness but merely out of courtesy – common humanity.”

He added: “I really was surprised by it,” to which Ms Thatcher replied “Sorry to shock you Lord Kinnock.”

Ms Thatcher was a former roving reporter on BBC’s One’s The One Show, but was sacked earlier this year after referring to French-Congolese tennis player Jo-Wilfred Tsonga as a ‘golliwog’ during a backstage discussion about the Australian Open.

The remark was not broadcast but was heard by presenter Adrian Chiles, guest Jo Brand and several members of the production team. It was then leaked to the press and Ms Thatcher was told not to return to the programme.

Every year the team on Britain’s Got Talent goes out in search for the country’s next sensation, but this year it seems the search has ended on the first week after Susan Boyle’s life-changing performance.

Britain's Got Talent auditionee Suan Boyle

Not only has the 47 year old Scottish singer become a YouTube favourite and global sensation, she has also won plaudits from around the world and could be in with a chance to perform a duet with her heroine, Elaine Paige. 

Before her successful audition on the show last Saturday, Boyle revealed her ultimate dream was to become a professional singer and follow in the footsteps of her idol Paige. Now, in a message of support, Paige, the original Evita in London’s West End, has punted the idea of the pair singing together. “Ever since Susan’s appearance on Britain’s Got Talent my Radio 2 inbox has been flooded with emails,” she writes on her website.

“It seems her performance has captured the hearts of everyone who saw it, me included … it looks like I have competition! Perhaps we should record a duet?”

But then anything, it seems, could happen now in the incredible brave new world Boyle inhabits. As Paige puts it: “She is a role model for everyone who has a dream.”

Paige is just the latest of a string of celebrity endorsers since Boyle’s jaw-dropping performance of the Les Misérables song “I Dreamed a Dream” on the ITV talent show. She has so far attracted 25 million YouTube hits, and has done what few British A-listers can: crack the US market.

Appearances on Larry King Live, Good Morning America, NBC and CBS, and possibly Oprah, have created a demand for an album, something of which Britain’s Got Talent’s Simon Cowell and his record label are no doubt aware. Actress Demi Moore – “It made me teary,” she tweeted on Twitter – and singer Patti LuPone are among celebrity fans.

With Ladbrokes’ odds of Boyle winning the series slashed to 2/5, last night’s wannabes on the show must be pretty deflated, though 39-year-old Julian Smith, a saxophonist from Birmingham, may yet challenge. His “Somewhere” from West Side Story reduced Judge Amanda Holden to tears. “It was stunning, absolutely stunning,” she said. Cowell, too, could see potential. “Certain people, Julian, you know, they’ve just got it. I think there could be something special about you.”

So two weeks in and the talent is pouring in, it seems this year the British public are in for a treat.

watch the full audition here: Susan Boyle audition

Since the beginning of last year we have been hearing about the recession and now like the doomed Titanic sailing towards that big iceberg it has finally hit. Economists say that this is the biggest and worst economic crisis to hit us globally since the beginning of the last century and no one is sure when or if it will end.

The first finger of blame was pointed at the Bankers and City boys who had been living it up in the lap of luxury for years claiming extortionate bonuses. However the whole blame cannot be put on them alone, the whole of Western Society got used to a disposable income and was in the grip of a “must have it ,will have it now” credit culture. We have sons of MP’s being given insane, uncalled-for allowances to throw “F*ck off I’m rich” parties, Celebrity Big Brother contestants demanding huge fees to just sit in a house for two weeks,(with the winner Ulrika Jonsson reportedly getting £175,000) while ordinary Joe Bloggs in the street is facing the very real and scary possibility of losing his job ( probably to a foreign worker) and home.

Most of all for 20 somethings like myself it seems very unfair. We are being made to pay for the big mistakes made by generations before us. We were not old enough to reap the rewards of western society’s consumer culture gone mad and now we have to bear the burden too.

I don’t want to hear that in these times of hardship to become a “recessionista” and build a capsule wardrobe of high end basic pieces. (a black t-shirt for £250? That’s half a month’s wages.) . I don’t want to hear that I should invest in stocks so that when they get better I’ll get a nice return.

I want to know that when I graduate I’ll not be heading straight for gumtree.com to find a job cleaning toilets because that’s all there is. But with unemployment rates for young people at a record high this seems more than a grim possibility. People seem to have forgotten about our generation, the ones who will have to bear the brunt of the previous generations’ misguided endeavors. And as most students know when it all hits the fan, unlike Britain’s banks this time our parents will not be able to bail us out.